Howes that for dealmaking? Howes Percival notches £828m of corporate deals

The return follows a period of sustained investment over the last four years that has seen the team expand to 10 partners and 37 staff across the firm's seven UK offices. Howes Percival has bases in Cambridge, Norwich, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Oxford Leicester and Manchester.

The team advises clients on significant and transformational acquisitions and disposals and the full range of corporate matters. It also provides a dedicated banking and finance service to banks, financial institutions, funds, and other lenders as well as to borrowers.

The last financial year saw the team involved in more complex and higher value deals, as well as the volume of deals increasing. The growth has also been driven by sector expertise, particularly Automotive, Development, Food & Beverage, Health & Social Care, Leisure & Tourism and Technology & Innovation. Significant recent deals include:-

• The acquisition of wholesale food supplier Central Foods Limited by Gressingham Foods

• QTS Limited's acquisition of the Hi Store business, part of the Whittan Group

• Acting for Fortune 250 US-based international automotive retailer Group 1 Automotive UK Limited on a number of acquisitions

• The acquisition of 38 PaintWell stores out of administration by C.Brewer & Sons

• The sale of Briggs & Forrester Building Services Maintenance Limited to BGIS

• The sale of Schoolblazer Limited to Hancock & Gore Limited

• Acting on the sale of the aerial survey specialist Bluesky International to US firm Woolpert.

James Stephen, Partner and Head of Corporate, says: "This record performance for the financial year just ended is a testament to the hard work and ability of the whole team. I'm incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve.

"Howes Percival is one of the go-to law firms on deals in our core locations, as evidenced by our regular involvement in the higher value and more complex transactions with clients and professional work referrers. Our continued success reflects our expertise across a number of sectors, as well as our focus on achieving the best outcome for our clients on every transaction.”